Know Magic

Chocolate enthusiasts didn’t have any other way to temper chocolates except via manual tempering before the compact tempering machine was invented. Tabliering and seeding were the only methods available to them, for which a double boiler and a frequently-calibrated thermometer were vital.

But manual tempering was quite complex and for novice chocolatiers, it was an ordeal because whether they succeeded in tempering their chocolates or not was a big question. And they couldn’t use the tempering machines available at that time because their size and capacity were strictly meant for big chocolate makers.

Thanks to a computer professional from New York, a much smaller chocolate tempering machine that fit countertops soon became accessible to these chocolate enthusiasts who found the new machine handy, particularly in keeping chocolates tempered for longer hours or even all night.

Snyder wanted to perfect the temperature control functionality of his new invention because only if the temperature was controlled and maintained at a specific temperature would type V crystals be produced in sufficient quantities to make chocolates firm, creamy and shiny. If this was not done, the fatty acids of the cocoa butter would crystallize into six different crystal structures, which would totally impede the creation of type V crystals.

Snyder before long obtained a patent for his tempering machine and his Sinsation Chocolate Maker came out into the market circa 1996. Hobbyists and homemakers, its target market, called it the “kitchen appliance”.

Sinsation was initially sold by the outfit, Chandre LLC where Snyder was Chairman. Another IT company called Indotronix International Corporation provided a $1 million stimulus for its production and marketing. Sales were primarily made via mail order and advertising was via gastronomic and chocolate magazines.

In the year 2000, the sales of the Sinsation shifted to ChocoVision, which added the tempering machine to their line of products, christening it as the “New Sinsation”. The stake of Indrotronix in this company appears to have continued till today.

Sales mostly came from eBay. Much later, participation in trade shows and industry exhibits opened a bigger market for ChocoVision. Before long, the Revolation was found in the kitchens of chocolatiers and other confectionery professionals, besides those of the original target market of hobbyists and homemakers. Internationally, the Revolation was sold via retailers and other distribution channels situated across the globe.

Cuban art is an assorted multi-ethnic blending of American, African and European visual design reflecting the contrasting population make-up of Cuba. Cuban artisans espoused European modernism and the early part of the 20th century saw an increase in Cuban modernist movements; these movements were known by an assortment of modern aesthetic genres. Illustrious Cuban artists tended to come from the early 20th century (for example Amelia Pelez).

It’s been argued that the most illustrious art (of sorts) to come out of Cuba was THAT photograph of Che Guevara (photograph by Mr Alberto Korda) which ended up being maybe one of the most recognisable photos of the past century. Today Cuban art is graced on many canvas prints.

The indigenous Cuban art cause gathered some pace following the opening of the art academy (San Alejandro) back in 1818, which was built to satisfy the European taste of the Cuban middle class. In the late 19th century, landscape paintings dominated the art movement of Cuba and classicalism was still the style of choice.

Nonetheless, the pioneering Cuban modern artist of the 1920s had despised the theoretical formulas of the national art academy of Cuba. During their genesis, numerous artists had lived in Paris, where they learned and took in the fundamentals of surrealism, cubism, and modernist primitivism. Once back in Cuba, they became committed to innovative artistic methods and were eager to merge this new artistic persuasion with a Cuban twist. The pioneering artists accomplished world recognition only as recently as 2003 when the Museum of Modern Art exhibited the the Modern Cuban Painting show.

Ask anyone their thoughts on graffiti, and you’ll get opinions of love and hatred : some people find it a nuisance, others a subtle artform. On the plus side, talented creatives such as Banksy have made graffiti an artform that is pleasing on the eye, utilizing stencils to produce technically difficult artworks with political points attached. This sort of graffiti was likely to get fashionable with both the public and the artworld : visually pleasing and intellectually satisfying. This form of graffiti is even acquired as graffiti prints, and hung in middleclass households and corporate reception areas.

Nonetheless, what of the usual variety - the scally, the tagger, the gangbanger kind - this is just seen as vandalism, a crime perpetrated by the untalented. However misinterprets graffiti as strictly an art form. To many people, it’s not just an artform, but a way to put your stamp on a neighbourhood, or even two fingers up at society : anti-art, anti-social, anti-establishment.

Graffiti has always been an undercover activity, although the effects are very much public. The targeted audience is often unidentified. Is it for a rival crew? A communication to a single person? To the public at large? Or….possibly it’s simply uncalled-for and out of nothing to do.

Whatever the reasons may be, there appears to be a enduring demand to spray graffiti. Some towns have admitted that graffiti isn’t going to go away, so they’ve designated areas where graffiti is allowed - usually uninhabited areas, but occasionally more civic areas like temporary boarding that surrounds inner city buildings under construction.

To get married or not to wed? That is the question. It ne’er used to be the inquiry. It was before ‘When to marry?’ not ‘why to marry’. For a long time women were required and expected themselves to acquire a husband young, hook up and start up home with tiddlers and a dog, and devotethe rest of their lives to running a well run house. Perchance because females have been set free from what were once their established roles, that a wedding ceremony is no longer of importance and most assuredly not the only route to go along. In fact umpteen people- both male and female positively hate the idea of marriage, and can’t imagine looking into a loved one’s face and promising without question to spend the remaider of their lives with them until someone dies. In many ways it’s very sad, because weddings can be such gay events- especially when they feature a exquisite wedding gown and sky lanterns. But, dreadful marriages can be destructive, financially and emotionally injurious, and the most isolating things of all. Though being in a painful relationship is also incredibly isolating, somehow with the marriage label, it’s worse still . The outside world expect more of a couple when they are formally married and have purportedly spent so much money on their wedding day. They are supposed to be happy or to at least try their damndest to be so. As a result of this detected external insistency, many partners feel they have to put on a front and hide their actual feelings. The reason why there used to be a greater number marriages or why marriages lasted a few generations ago is because couples had no choice but to keep pressing on with their relationship. This is better in some respects, but in others, it is very destructive. Yes there were a bigger number of marriages, but there were also many more desperately painful ones.

Not sure who to be for Halloween? Homemade costume ideas are great for a last Halloween costume minute idea or for a homemade costume that’s easy and inexpensive. Here are some fun tips for homemade Halloween costume ideas.